Scottish Executive

Aggregates Tax

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the impact which the introduction of the aggregates tax may have on haulage companies that carry aggregates.

Rhona Brankin: The aggregates tax is a reserved matter. Assessment of the economic impact of the tax throughout the UK is a matter for HM Treasury.

Aggregates Tax

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment has been made of the impact on the supply and demand of recycled and secondary aggregates as a result of the introduction of the aggregates tax.

Rhona Brankin: The aggregate tax is a reserved matter. Detailed questions on the impact of the aggregates tax should be directed to HM Treasury. Although no separate assessment of the impact of the tax has been undertaken in Scotland, it is expected that the supply and demand of recycled and secondary aggregates will increase.

Ambulance Service

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3531 by Susan Deacon on 6 June 2001, when Health Department officials will report on their discussions regarding priority-based ambulance dispatch and whether it will undertake further consultation based on the outcome of the discussions.

Susan Deacon: It is for the Scottish Ambulance Service to consult on proposals for operational changes. I understand that the service, in preparing the case for priority based dispatch, has consulted widely within NHSScotland, including clinicians, patients and patient representatives. The Scottish Executive has now asked the service to develop its proposals to the stage of a full business case. This will include proposals for the implementation of priority-based dispatch, including arrangements for any further consultation which the service proposes to undertake.

Bridges

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a plan exists for life-cycle maintenance on the Erskine Bridge and, if so, what capital works are envisaged within the period of any such plan.

Sarah Boyack: The need and timing of the maintenance required to the bridge is identified by the Operating Company through the inspection regime set out in the Maintenance Manual. These works will then be prioritised and programmed.

  The next major works currently planned are strengthening of the bridge deck to meet EC loading requirements and other minor improvements. A contract with an estimated value of £2.1 million is currently out to competitive tender. These works were identified following the national bridge assessment programme.

Buildings

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether public buildings built under public procurement procedures funded by the public sector are subject, under good practice procedures, to construction standards which are more stringent than those imposed by legally required construction standards.

Lewis Macdonald: Public sector clients will require buildings to satisfy Government policies on matters such as environmental performance or access for people with disabilities as they deem necessary in particular cases. The standards may exceed, or expand on, those set by the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations, which are the minimum standards applicable to all new buildings.

Central Heating

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the technical specifications included in its central heating installation programme match Glasgow City Council’s established technical standards and whether each property within Glasgow which receives central heating as part of the programme will need to be subsidised by the council by up to £700 per property.

Jackie Baillie: The guidance on the Central Heating Programme includes performance specifications for gas, oil and coal-fired wet central heating and electric storage heating systems. The specifications demand that all relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and manufacturers’ instructions are met. The specifications also set out design principles and methods of installation that are fully in accordance with recognised good practice standards. The technical standards put in place by Glasgow City Council must at least match these requirements.

  The Central Heating Programme provides that local authorities will receive grant of up to £2,500 per dwelling to install the heating and insulation package. Glasgow City Council have not advised us that they will have to add £700 of their own money to meet the cost in every case. They are free to do so if they wish. Eaga, the Managing Agent for the private sector, can install the heating and insulation package at an average cost of £2,500 per dwelling across all sectors of the stock.

Central Heating

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive why technical specifications were not laid down in relation to safety measures required in connection with its central heating installation programme, in particular the provision of a carbon monoxide detector and cold alarm, and whether it will now require provision of such detectors and alarms in the programme.

Jackie Baillie: The Executive included considerable detail on safety in the performance specification for gas central heating. The specification states that all gas central heating systems must be installed in accordance with all relevant health and safety legislation. It also states that landlords are wholly responsible for ensuring that health and safety legislation and regulations are complied with. Further advice is given on the need for landlords to ensure that all subcontractors, agents, operatives and other representatives adhere strictly to health and safety regulation and that all personnel involved in the scheme are suitably qualified. Local authorities and housing associations are required to install carbon monoxide detectors (except where the heating system is electric) fire detectors and cold alarms as a condition of receiving grant under the Central Heating Programme. Eaga must install these alarms in the private sector.

Central Heating

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow City Council, as part of its Glasgow Action for Warm Homes policy, has specified the installation of condensing boilers for almost 10 years in order to achieve affordable fuel cost targets and whether the Scottish Executive will support the installation of condensing boilers as part of its central heating installation programme.

Jackie Baillie: It is for Glasgow City Council to answer questions about its central heating policy. The specification for the Executive’s Central Heating Programme does not prevent the council from continuing to specify condensing boilers in future improvement works, providing they come within the £2,500 grant or the council pays the balance itself.

Central Heating

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether not installing condensing boilers under its central heating installation programme will result in higher running costs for tenants and lower savings in energy and CO 2 emissions in the future than would be the case if they were installed.

Jackie Baillie: It need not have this effect. The industry standard is the Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK database which categorises central heating systems by bands. Band D contains high efficiency non-condensing boilers with modulating burners which operate at efficiencies equal to some condensing boilers. The similar performance of some condensing and non-condensing boilers was influential in deciding to specify a minimum annual seasonal efficiency of 78 per cent for gas fired boilers in the performance specifications for the Central Heating Programme.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to consult on the regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which will require taxi drivers to carry assistance dogs and to do so without charge.

Peter Peacock: The Executive is today going out to consultation on the terms of The Taxi Drivers’ Licences (Carrying of Guide and Hearing Dogs) (Scotland) Regulations. Copies will be available from the Parliament’s reference centre and can be accessed on the Scottish Executive website. The consultation papers will also be provided on audio tape, disc and large print on request. We will consider all responses carefully before finalising the terms of the proposed regulations.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what groups have been set up by the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland to explore particular issues relating to domestic abuse as recommended in the  National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland  and what the membership and remit of each group is.

Ms Margaret Curran: Three working groups are currently being established, each chaired by a member of the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland.

  Keir Bloomer will chair a group to produce a Prevention Strategy. Sheriff Pamela Bowman will chair a group reviewing relevant current legislation and Jannette Forman will chair a group to review the 1991 COSLA recommendations for refuge places. The membership and remits will be finalised shortly.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to evaluate the progress of its domestic abuse strategy.

Ms Margaret Curran: The National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland will be reviewed in 2003 in accordance with the quantitative and qualitative measures described in the strategy.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of all current legislation relating to domestic abuse as set out in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland  will be completed and what plans it has to bring forward proposals following this review.

Ms Margaret Curran: As stated in my answer to question S1W-19069, a working group to review legislation is currently being established. It is expected to take about three months to complete its review. Further action will then be considered.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people (a) applied for refuge accommodation, (b) received such accommodation and (c) were refused a place in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Margaret Curran: This information is not held centrally. Scottish Women’s Aid annual reports provide a breakdown of requests for and provision of, information, support and refuge for each affiliated local group.

Enterprise

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now implement the recommendation contained in the 1st Report 2000, Inquiry into the Delivery of Local Economic Development Services in Scotland , by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, that there should be an ombudsman created to consider complaints made in respect of the enterprise network and, if not, whether it will (a) review the remit of the external adjudicators, (b) extend the remit of the external adjudicators to include issues such as malfeasance and (c) increase the powers of the external adjudicators to include the power to award compensation and to assess what compensation should be appropriate.

Ms Wendy Alexander: We are taking forward the recommendation to create an ombudsman to investigate complaints against the enterprise networks as part of our wider exercise to establish modern arrangements for public sector ombudsmen in Scotland. In July we published a paper, A Modern Complaints System , which set out detailed proposals, including the proposal that the External Complaints Adjudicators of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise would be wound-up and that the Enterprise Networks would fall within the remit of the proposed Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman. The main function of the new ombudsman will be to investigate claims of injustice resulting from maladministration.

  In his statement to Parliament last month the First Minister confirmed our intention to introduce the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman Bill later this year.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sum was initially allocated to the Motorola task force and what changes have been made since the initial allocation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I announced in Parliament on 25 April that the Executive would set aside up to £10 million to fund measures which may be required by the closure of Motorola’s Bathgate plant. Up to £10 million in total remains available.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the operating costs of the fisheries research vessel Scotia , operated by the Fisheries Research Services were in each of the last three years for which records are available.

Rhona Brankin: Operating costs per day at sea for FRV Scotia :

  1998-99: £5,474

  1999-2000: £5,098

  2000-01: £5,140

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17911 by Rhona Brankin on 18 September 2001, which of the 19 projects undertaken by the Fisheries Research Services involved the use of the fisheries research vessel Scotia .

Rhona Brankin: None of the 19 projects referred to in the answer to question S1W-17911, undertaken by the Fisheries Research Services (FRS), involved the use of the fisheries research vessel Scotia . The costs of Scotia have not been, and will not be, charged to the £1 million Partnership funds I announced earlier in the year. However, any appropriate data gathered by Scotia during routine FRS studies will be amalgamated with any relevant extra information obtained during the charter surveys undertaken under the aegis of the partnership board.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop Scotland’s role in clinical drug trials.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive supports the development of clinical drug trials within the NHS and is taking steps to enhance the capacity of NHSScotland to participate in such work.

  Within Scotland, the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department has established a Pharmaceutical Liaison Group comprising representatives of Information and Statistical Division of NHSScotland, the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry and major pharmaceutical companies. The aim of the group is to explore shared areas of interest and concern with a view to creating an environment within which clinical trials can flourish to mutual benefit.

Homelessness

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle the issue of homelessness for those with mental health problems.

Jackie Baillie: The Homelessness Task Force, which I chair, is considering, amongst other things, the need for improved housing provision, advice and support for the resettlement of people leaving institutions and other vulnerable groups.

  The Code of Guidance on Homelessness also identifies people with mental illness as potentially vulnerable, and therefore in priority need. In addition, action through the Rough Sleepers Initiative is targeted on people with complex needs, including those with mental health problems. I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1F-1252 on 20 September 2001, in relation to health, including mental health, and homelessness issues.

Homelessness

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people, on average, were sleeping rough in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Glasgow, broken down on a nightly basis, for each year from 1997 to date.

Jackie Baillie: As I indicated in reply to question S1W-18044, the report of a prevalence assessment conducted in May indicated that an average of 23 people were sleeping rough in Glasgow and 19 in Edinburgh. We intend to repeat this assessment bi-annually. One-night street counts carried out in Glasgow and Edinburgh in 1997 indicated 53 and 42 people sleeping rough.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15534 by Jackie Baillie on 30 July 2001, what legal advice it took before concluding that amendment 150 to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, now incorporated in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, would comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive always seeks to act within the law and takes legal advice as appropriate. The policy of the Executive is, as a general rule, not to disclose that legal advice has been obtained on any particular matter, or to disclose the content or source of any such legal advice. There does not appear to the Executive to be any good reason to depart from that general policy in this particular case.

Land Purchase

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) whether it is within the competence of a local authority to acquire land compulsorily, to sell it to a developer under a "back-to-back" agreement; (b) whether it is aware of, and will provide details of any circumstances in which such an agreement has been made.

Lewis Macdonald: Under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 it is competent for a local authority to acquire land compulsorily and for someone else to undertake the development.

  We do not hold details of agreements entered into between local authorities and developers.

New Deal

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent in relation to the New Deal from its inception to date.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.

  Total expenditure in Scotland on the New Deal up to August 2001 was £150 million. Details are shown in the table:

  


 


ND18-24
(£000) 
  

ND25+
(£000) 
  

ND Lone Parents
(£000) 
  

ND Disabled People
(£000) 
  

ND Partners unemployed
(£000) 
  

ND50+ 
(£000) 
  



1997-98 
  

1,266 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



1998-99 
  

17,330 
  

1,913 
  

1,557 
  

160 
  

- 
  

- 
  



1999-2000 
  

32,488 
  

11,486 
  

2,798 
  

459 
  

490 
  

165 
  



2000-01 
  

38,846 
  

10,688 
  

3,657 
  

570 
  

848 
  

1,183 
  



April-Aug 2001 
  

17,272 
  

5,068 
  

1,684 
  

175 
  

187 
  

208 
  



Total 
  

107,202 
  

29,155 
  

9,696 
  

1,364 
  

1,525 
  

1,556

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that young offenders are engaged in purposeful activity and that the provision of such activity is monitored, as identified in the Visiting Committee of Polmont Young Offenders Institution Annual Report 1 April 2000-31 March 2001 .

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has made at Polmont significant investment to enhance the capabilities of the various workshops by the introduction of new machinery. Additionally, a paint finishing plant is being installed. This investment should provide further workplaces and training opportunities, as well as making work more interesting. Polmont has also introduced two further training areas, an Information Technology and Business Centre and Vocational Training Painting and Decorating. Both these areas will deliver quality and certificated training.

  As a result of the new staff attendance work patterns SPS introduced at Polmont on 1 October 2001, and if more contract work can be sourced, we hope to introduce a workshop efficiency scheme similar to those already established in some other SPS establishments, but without restricting numbers or insisting on full attendance throughout the working week. This would ensure that time for education programmes and PE is maintained. Production through each workshop is monitored on a weekly basis and used to compile annual report statistics on value of production. Polmont also intend to carry out daily monitoring of workshop attendance records.

Public Transport

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the resources necessary to implement the free off peak local bus travel scheme for the elderly will be included in the local government finance settlement for 2002-03.

Sarah Boyack: Additional resources to fund the enhanced concessionary fare arrangements in 2002-03 and beyond were included within the general local government settlement allocations announced in December 2000.

Road Safety

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Scottish Road Safety Campaign has made to it on the issue of slow moving vehicles on primary roads and what subsequent representations it has made or plans to make to the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions on any necessary changes to existing legislation.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Road Safety Campaign has made no such representations. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Government on a wide range of issues, including road safety.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when work will commence on the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar, and how the timescale now compares with the timescale given in Strategic Roads Review – Scheme Decisions , the supplementary report to Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review .

Sarah Boyack: I announced in November 1999 that five schemes, including the A1, will proceed to construction over the next three years. I had envisaged that, subject to satisfactory progress on the completion of the necessary statutory procedures, construction could begin in 2001. However, that process has taken slightly longer than envisaged in 1999, due to a combination of objections which required to be considered fully and the impact of foot-and-mouth disease, which delayed ground construction work and topographical surveys.

  The necessary procedures were completed in August 2001 and tenders were promptly invited for the construction work. I hope to see that work start in summer 2002.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology it used to assess the environmental impact of building slip roads to East Linton on the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has not undertaken an environmental impact assessment of the slip roads at East Linton. Should their construction be promoted, this would require the preparation and publication of an Environmental Statement in accordance with the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 as amended by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999. This is mandatory for all new motorways and special roads.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to modify the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar to incorporate slip roads to East Linton.

Sarah Boyack: The statutory consents for the A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway would not allow for the inclusion of slip roads to East Linton in the contract, which is currently being tendered.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why no public local inquiry was held on the proposal to construct the A1 Haddington to Dunbar expressway option as recommended in Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review .

Sarah Boyack: When Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review  was published in November 1999 public reaction to the expressway had not been tested by the publication of draft orders. Contrary to expectations, the orders subsequently published did not attract objections that would have made the holding of a public local inquiry necessary.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many objections to the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar remain outstanding.

Sarah Boyack: None, I considered each objection and my decision is contained in a letter dated 13 June 2001 issued to each objector.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar were considered.

Sarah Boyack: Prior to publication of the preferred route in June 1996 four alternatives were considered for the section between Haddington and East Linton, six around East Linton and two from East Linton to Dunbar. The preferred route and the Expressway were the two options considered under the Strategic Roads Review.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar will have on the community of East Linton and the surrounding areas.

Sarah Boyack: The new road will remove 75 per cent of current traffic including the majority of heavy goods vehicles from the residential area at the edge of the village reducing noise and fumes. A study into the effects of the new road on the level of passing trade in East Linton was carried out but concluded the impact was insufficient to threaten the existence of any single business.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alleviate any problems to the local community that may be caused by the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar.

Sarah Boyack: High quality signing will be provided at either end of the new road to direct traffic to local destinations including East Linton and Scottish Tourist Board accredited attractions.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its plans to construct the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar without slip roads to East Linton in view of potential reduction in the tourism and retail sectors as outlined in the report by Roger Tym and Partners, A1 Haddington – Dunbar Expressway Economic Amendment of Passing Trade at East Linton .

Sarah Boyack: No.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the A82.

Sarah Boyack: The three-year programme of improvements to the motorway and trunk road network, which I announced on 27 March, included one major scheme on the A82. This project will improve capacity at the A82/A814 Dumbuck Junction, Dumbarton and allow further safety improvements at Milton Village. Preliminary work on the scheme will start in 2002-03. In addition, there are a range of routine and minor maintenance schemes in progress on the route.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the campaign by the Highland Council for improvements to the A82, in particular (a) the introduction of lay-bys and passing places to provide overtaking opportunities for the Loch Ness length of the road between Fort Augustus and Inverness, (b) removal of the "pinch point" created by traffic lights on the narrow length of road near Ardlui, (c) improvements to the narrow winding sections between Tarbert and Inverarnan at the northern end of Loch Lomond and between Fort William and Onich, (d) improvement to the Invermoriston-Fort Augustus section to address the high accident rate and (e) removal of the height restrictions that exist at the railway bridges at Crianlarich.

Sarah Boyack: The three-year programme of motorway and trunk road improvements, which I announced on 27 March, does not include any major schemes between Loch Lomond and Inverness. However, minor maintenance and improvement schemes are being progressed, including works on new lay-bys at Abriachan and Temple Pier and a new footway between Invermoriston and Dalcataig Junction. The roads programme is under regular review and we will consider the case for further improvements, including the schemes being promoted by the Highland Council, in the context of competing priorities across the whole of the network.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet representatives from the Highland Council to hear their case for improvements to the A82.

Sarah Boyack: I met representatives of the Highland Council, including the Lochaber Area convener, when I visited the area in August. We discussed a range of transport issues, including the A82 trunk road, and the convener has since written to the department setting out his points in detail. I have no further plans to meet the council on this issue in the near future.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport and Planning or any other minister has at any time indicated that a public enquiry into the proposed A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar would result in the expressway not being built.

Sarah Boyack: No.

Schools

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that there are national guidelines for school rationalisation.

Mr Jack McConnell: COSLA has been working on preparation of a code of practice on school closures in response to a recommendation by the Parliament’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee. It has, however, recently decided that the issues it was considering could not be satisfactorily addressed through the provision of a code and has decided to abandon its work on the code of practice on school closures.

  COSLA has subsequently written to my department advising of its decision and proposing a review of all legislation relating to school closures.

  I will, of course, give this proposal careful consideration before reaching a view.

Schools

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that parents are consulted in any plans to rationalise schools.

Mr Jack McConnell: There is a statutory duty on education authorities to consult parents of children who attend schools which are the subject of specific closure or related proposals. The requirements are set out in the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc) (Scotland) Regulations 1981.

Schools

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used when considering funding bids for new schools under the second phase of Public/Private Partnership.

Mr Jack McConnell: Scottish Executive Education Department Circular 8/2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s reference centre, includes a list of the criteria against which bids for revenue support for further school Public/Private Partnership proposals will be assessed. The list, in descending order of priority, is:

  Affordability

  Value for money

  Deliverability

  Management of issues that may impact on delivery

  Project management structure

  Project team

  Realism of procurement timetable

  Support for the project within the authority

  Extent to which the estate management plan reflects or is likely to reflect the Executive’s proposed long-term strategy for improving Scotland’s school environment

  Approach to community use of school facilities, especially sports facilities and pitch provision, and the steps being taken to place this in the context of overall provision.

Schools

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the health and safety arrangements in place at Holyrood Secondary School in Glasgow are satisfactory.

Mr Jack McConnell: The overall responsibility for health and safety arrangements at schools in Glasgow lies with Glasgow City Council, and the Scottish Executive does not have a monitoring role in this regard.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16676 by Allan Wilson on 24 August 2001, what monitoring takes place to ensure that all boxing authorities comply fully with the Amateur International Boxing Association’s medical standards, as outlined in the Medical Handbook of Amateur Boxing .

Allan Wilson: Every show held must send the result sheets (SME4 and SME4a) to the registrar who collates the information received and checks that medical advice is adhered to.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional safety measures have been introduced through the British Boxing Board of Control following the Paul Ingles fight and how information on these measures will be disseminated.

Allan Wilson: The British Boxing Board of Control has jurisdiction over professional boxing in Great Britain. As for amateur boxing, medical standards are set by the Amateur International Boxing Association and these standards are adopted by the European body and subsequently by Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd.

Sport

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of children in the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency taking part in weekly physical activity.

Mr Jack McConnell: Guidance on the curriculum recommends one hour’s physical exercise per week for all pupils up to the age of 16. The Scottish Executive has encouraged schools to promote physical exercise in recent years through a range of  sportscotland initiatives which include: the TOPS programmes (resources for schools and training for teachers), the Active Primary Schools programme (being piloted in a number of education authorities) and the School Sport Co-ordinator programme.

  Funding of £143,900 has been provided for school sport co-ordinators who cover 13 schools in South Lanarkshire, in which Clydesdale is located. Awards of £12,500 each have also been made to two independent schools in the area. South Lanarkshire has also benefitted from TOPS programme funding of £173,910, which will I’m sure help support the council’s policy of encouraging physical activity in its schools.

Sport

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding  sportscotland has received in each year since 1999 and what the source of the funding was.

Allan Wilson: The figures are as follows:

  

 

1999-2000 (£ million) 
  

2000-01 (£ million) 
  

2001-02 
(£ million) 
  



Grant-in-aid from the Scottish Executive 
  

10.109 
  

10.309 
  

12.5091




Lottery Sports Fund 
  

24.093 
  

25.672 
  

23.82




Course Fees 
  

1.853 
  

2.065 
  

Not yet known 
  



Other Operational Income (e.g. lease of premises) 
  

0.924 
  

1.128 
  

Not yet known 
  



  Notes:

  1. An additional sum of up to £1 million is also being made available to sportscotland from amounts unspent from Scottish Executive Programmes in the previous financial year.

  2. This is based on a medium forecast (compared to a low of £21.6 million and a high of £26.3 million).

Sport

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much  sportscotland invested in promoting sporting opportunities for persons with disabilities in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: For the last two years,  sportscotland have awarded £30,000 development grant to Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) – a similar award will be made next year. In addition,  sportscotland have a Youth Sport Co-ordinator for sport for people with a disability and a Governing Body Development Officer whose work, amongst other things, involves liaising with SDS. The former costs between £40,000 and £50,000 per annum and is paid through the Ready, Willing and Able Programme and the monies that come from Royal Mail (£30,000) to that programme. The cost of the latter is unmeasured. There is also the BP Amoco Tourfest, sponsored through  sportscotland’s Youth Sport Team, which directs funds towards the co-ordination of programmes specifically designed to promote sport for young people with a physical disability.

  Under the Lottery Sports Fund, five awards totalling £15,000 have been made from the Talented Athletes Programme and numerous others made from the Awards for All programme to projects relating to people with a disability.

Sport

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost of  sportscotland’s administrative functions was in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: Sportscotland’s administrative costs in 1999-2000 were £393,038 and in 2000-01 were £323,628.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or plans to make to  sportscotland and the Scottish Sports Association regarding the reports that Scottish athletes may be denied the opportunity to represent Scotland in the 2002 Commonwealth Games because they no longer live or train in Scotland despite their registered nationality being Scottish, and the fact that they have previously represented Scotland and have met the appropriate national qualifying standard for their sport.

Allan Wilson: None. The selection of the Scottish team is a matter for the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland. In choosing team members, they satisfy themselves that each athlete meets the set eligibility criteria.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or plans to make to sports cotland and the Scottish Sports Association to ensure that all sports have equal rules regarding nationality in order to represent Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The eligibility issue cannot be dealt with by either  sportscotland or the Scottish Sports Association as the jurisdiction in all cases is with separate international federations whose members are individual national governing bodies of sport. However,  sportscotland is kept informed and the advice has been helpful in resolving cases where athletes have multiple nationality options.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a detailed breakdown of the cost of its "Learn to Let Go" advertising campaign.

Sarah Boyack: Expenditure as at 30 September is shown in the table:

  

 

£ 
  



Media Costs (TV, Radio, Posters and Bus Backs) 
  

293,929 
  



Consultancy 
  

21,150 
  



Roadshow 
  

834 
  



Printing Costs (Posters and Leaflets) 
  

11,653 
  



Miscellaneous 
  

3,455 
  



Total 
  

331,021 
  



  The Executive expects to spend a further £292,475 this financial year. Transport operators, who are jointly sponsoring the campaign, are meeting £164,000 of the total cost and one operator has provided the bus for the roadshows.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer whether he will make a statement on the ownership of the land currently being developed as the landscape scheme associated with the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Sir David Steel: The idea of incorporating the area of the Royal Park comprising the site of the former Royal High School playing fields as landscaping around Holyrood dates back to Enric Miralles’ earliest concept for the Parliament project. The Parliament is the client for these works and the finalised scheme design was approved by the Corporate Body earlier this year.

  The land in question was owned by Scottish ministers and under the jurisdiction of Historic Scotland. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has concluded that this was not a satisfactory long-term arrangement, considering in particular the issue of responsibility for maintenance of the landscaped area. For this reason, we have agreed with Scottish ministers that the Parliament will buy this portion of land. The District Valuer has valued the land at £20,000 and this sum will be transferred to Historic Scotland from the Holyrood Capital Budget. The budget assigned to the landscape scheme will be transferred by the Scottish Executive to the Parliament. The transfer of the land and budget will take effect from 17th October 2001. In all other respects the work will proceed as planned.

Scottish Parliament Website

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will make scottishparliamentlive.com available in a form which is readily accessible to Mac users.

Sir David Steel: scottishparliamentlive.com webcasts the proceedings of the Scottish Parliament using the two main streaming platforms, Windows Mediaplayer and Realplayer. Users of both PCs and Apple Mac computers who have downloaded the appropriate players can view the streams. Guidance on how to optimise performance is available via the site’s user guide and further assistance to users is available on request.